St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-05-21


And welcomed with shrieks Of delight
For sets OF the prettiest dishes
On which 70 serve dinners delicious,
And cunning wee sofas and tables.
And books filled with jingies and fables,
And finger-rings, bracelets, and lockets
Have been found in these wonderful pockets,
Grandpa's pockets.
-Nasv0ref Eytisgs, IN Wide Ascdks.
H
JERoME'S ADVENTURE.
Placed In . Cage Of His Fathers Meaageris
with the Panther and the Liooess-Hs
Saved the Circus.
Once upon time there was . man
who kept menagerie, and in it were
several great animals and some smaller
ones.
This man who owned the menagerie,
or travelling geological garden. was
kind; SO was his wife. They had one
little child. boy; and at the time of
my story this child was two years old.
or thereabouts-a fine, chubby little
boy, who was pleased with the animals
and birds. and would laugh and chat
with them in his own little way until
even the mischievous monkeys were
glad to see him.
The menagerie travelled through the
country. 1t was in France. People
came to see the performing elephant
and the other creatures, and watched Int
tie Jerome ride Hercules-that was the
elephants name-and play q few tricks.
I have told you that the man who
owned the menagerie was good and
kind. So he was, but he had enemies.
and one enemy in particular-a lazy,
idle man. who had once owned this
very menagerie. who was too idle and
cruel to keep it. So he sold the animals.
and spent the money in idleness. But
when he saw how well the other man
was getting on, how much money he
was making, how the animals liked Aim.
and when he remembered that he him
self could never do this, he got very
angry. He was greedy and jealous; he
did not want to work, yet he wanted
money. and was angry with Jerome's $
father for making q success Of what he
(MaltaiD only failed in. This Maltait
said he would be ''revenged."
What do you think he dida 1t was .
bad, wicked action. and only q cruel
man would have thought Of such q
thing. He printed bills, and let all the
people know that on certain day. in
certain town. Mr.. Bonnet's little son
would 60 into the panther's den. and
sit there. Do you know why he said
this? Because" said he to himself.
ga great number of people will come to
see the show. and am sure Bonnet will
not let his boy 60 into the cage. Then
the people will be angry. and pull down
the show. perhaps. or do some damage. :"
When the menagerie reached the
town. Mr.. Bonnet. Jerome's father.
was very much surprised to see the bills
saying that his dear little Jerome would
60 into the cage with the lioness and
the panther. which lived together. and
sit with the savage beasts. His wife
was in terrible way. She cried. and
begged her husband to find out who
had done such . wicked thing. The
people were rough. and liked rough
scenes. They wanted to see the little
boy in the cage, and even il the panther
tore him they would not have cared!
The menagerie was fixed up; all the
caravans with the cages were arranged
rs usual. and early in the afternoon q
great crowd of rough men came, and
women and children, to see little Je-
rome in the cage. Mrs. Bonnet wanted
to tell the people it was a mistake. but
her husband said: '.They will tear US
to pieces, perhaps, or burn the menage-
rie in their disappointment l must
see what l can do"
The people came in and crushed
about. Mr.. Bonnet had fed
the animals. and they were
quiet Hercules" the elephant.
walked about, Jerome played his
pranks. and then the people began to
call out for the ''cage trick" as they
said. Mr.. Bonnet made them speech.
He said he had not printed the bills.
and it was done without his knowledge.
It had been done by some enemy. who
would be punished, no doubt. some
day. ''But il the people insisted"
"Yes! yes!' they insisted. He must
put the child in the cage!
Then Mr.. Bonnet got very
faint He did not dare refuse.
and yet his heart was sad. His
dear little son might be torn in pieces,
but he must do rs the people said or
the whole menagerie might be destroy
ed. So he said: ''very well, ladies
and gentlemen; for to-day only / will
permit this, and then / will find out
the man who has tried to ruin me. and
will have him punished.
The people cried '.Hurrah" and his
father took jerome. and bad him say
his prayers. Then he asked: ..Are
you afraid Of the beastse''
mo, father; not . bit!' said the brave
boy.
So his father took him OF the ele.
phant. and opened the cage. The ami
mails never stirred! Shall / tell you
whyf They had had 4 good dinner.
with something to make them sleep.
and Hercules, the elephant, was look
ing = them % hard, that they were